I'm in two minds about it - I certainly don't think drugs cheats should be given an easy route back BUT looking at someone like Millar, I do think that he'd probably be more of a positive influence than negative if he could race at the Olympics.

I guess that I'm on the side of letting them compete BUT only if they've admitted their guilt and explained how they doped, who supplied, etc.

I may have misunderstood the ruling, but is it not he case that a lifetime ban could be introduced by WADA as part of its sanctions and then this would have to be recognised by the IOC. In other words, it's not really the lifetime ban that is at issue, but the fact that it is WADA who issues drugs sanctions, not the IOC.

NB: This may be an over-simplification of a subject that is, at any level, a complete minefield

But in the spirit of forgiveness etc, maybe just make them wear it for a specified time, like 5 years or something. I do think it would be a good move to encourage athletes not to use drugs, if the prospect of them not being able to earn good money through sponsorship was real. Ban them from being able to take any money from sponsors or those using their image to promote goods etc. And maybe fine them according to their income during the period they were cheating for. Ben Johnson etc mustuv earned millions during the time they cheated, and got to keep it all.

I don't think David Millar could be made to wear a bigger dunce's hat, he wears it from choice loud and clear.

One of the key points that comes across from his book is the lack of clear role-models for staying clean. By all accounts he's now doing just that with Cervelo potentially protecting a new generation of younger riders. He could play a similar role for Olympians (though less required by Team GB).

It's almost certain that clean riders (and athletes) will be competing against previously doped competitors ...who don't happen to have been caught. So not an easy one then.

And how's it 'self righteousness'? It's about trying to ensure that cheats are kept out of sports, and that those caught cannot profit from their cheating. What's wrong wiv dat?

Personally I can't stand hearing people like Millar and Dwayne Chambers whine on about their 'mistakes' etc. Had they never bin caught, they'd neverruv owned up, but carried on taking coin for being cheats. Fact.

Very poor argument, iDave. Trouble with cheating in sports, is that it can prevent other, non-cheating athletes from achieving their goal. Meaning that even though they've stuck by the rules, there is no reward for them because some other competitor took the cowards way to success.

Ask Oscar Pereiro Sio how he thinks about 'winning' the TdF in 2006.

This man cheated, and got to stand on the top step of the podium in Paris, and bask in the glory of being the 'winner'.

Where was Oscar's moment of glory, the one he deserved for actually winning the race according to the rules?

they effectively defraud their "employer" (team funding, appearance, prizes, sponsorship - or all ultimately from the watching public, if you prefer) and they deny other (clean) athletes the status and potentially huge rewards that they merit

If I did that my employer/regulatory body should have the right to ensure that I don't do it again by sacking me and never rehiring me

Sigh all you like, but your reductionist approach is poorly thought out and asks for higher standards of behaviour than you are subjected to, or would tolerate. It also demonstrates a lack of appreciation for the way that professional sport has evolved.

Sigh all you like, but your reductionist approach is poorly thought out

No it's not. As I've explained. iDave's logic is the one what is 'poorly thought out'.

Do you remember Oscar Pereiro Sio's glorious win in the 2006 TdF, his ride into Paris in his deserved Leader's Yellow Jersey, and his triumphant step up onto the podium in front of hundreds of thousands of race fayns and the World's media? No, thought not...

Why should this apply to cyclists alone. Until ALL other sports have a equally severe policy it's not really of any value.
Might I also suggest that if the reason why doping is banned is image then lets take our basball bats to those who publisise it. The paper do not tell all for moral reasons, they do it to sell. As does the cycling press.
The press are far more damaging to the sport than the drug takers.

Actually I fail to see a big problem. if a cyclist harms himself its his problem. No one has any right to suppress anothers to hurt them self. They do have a duty to allow him to do so.
So now we come to the idea of fairness. Why not allow more drugs. After all cyclists are pumped full of un natural stuff anyway. Allow it and it can be controled, ban it and it goes underground.
Finally I agree with iDave. Plus I would say it is none of our business. Unless we have a WADA expert lurking on the forum we are all talking uneducated bollocks.

Ok, let me clarify for the hard of thinking... I'm not suggesting that drug cheats get off free, that they be given a smack on the wrist, or even the bottom then allowed to go away and carry on.

I am suggesting that a lifetime ban is too harsh, and requires a standard of behaviour from a person doing a job that we would not expect from anyone else.

By all means have sanctions, by all means have year, two year bans, and have increased scrutiny afterwards, but to ban someone for life, esentially taking away a means to earn a living is extremely harsh and is not reflected elsewhere in society.

define "drugs" on a 1-10 scale. what is good what is bad, what enhances performance to what level? each number on the scale should be a different colour on the Ban "strip cheat" band the banned athletes have to wear. Then market the tops in JJB sports and all the cool kids can buy 'em and figure it out.

Are we talking about lifetime bans or lifetime Olympic bans, Millar still seems to be earning a living, doesn't he?
EDIT: If an athlete can prove that they are clean and competitive, why shouldn't they compete at the highest level.
Isn't prison about rehabilitation and not punishment?